Improvement in weigh-scales



UNITED STATES ROBERT E. O. RHEA, OF UNIONTOWN, KENTUCKY.

II VIPROVEMENT IN WElGH-SCALES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 178,673, dated June 13, 1876; applieationfiled March 21, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT H. O. RHEA,

of Uniontown, in the county of Union and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Scales, of which the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a top view of my improved scales; Fig. 2, a vertical longitudinal section of the same on line 0 c, Fig. l; and Fig. 3, a top view of the scales as folded together.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The'invention relates to an improved construction of scales that are, when made in small size, especially adapted for being car ried by physicians and druggists in portable folded state, in the pocket, and in larger sizes to be used for domestic and business purposes.

The invention consists of scales made of a longer weighing-beam and a shorter traybeam, hinged together and working on a fulcrum or-i'lange bent down from the tray or scale beam.

The weighing-beam is longitudinally slotted for the sliding weight, having lateral {indexhands and a guide-pin, and' novided with pronged ends for attaching smaller weights.

In the drawing, A represents the shorter tray-beam, and B the longer weighing-beam, which are stamped out of any suitable sheet metal, and hinged together by pivot-pins of the scale-beam, passingthrongh' perforated and bent up lugs to of the tray-beam. The

'edge of the tray or scale beam A is bent downward to form a lateral flange, 1), below the pivots or hinge, which flange serves as the iulcrum for the scales.

The dish or tray 0, on which the ingredients or objects to be weighed are placed, is pivoted or riveted to the outer end of the tray-beam.

Both the tray and scale beams are stiff ened by turned-up flanges at the edges, those of the tray-beam being preferably bent down, as shown in Fig. 3, and those of the scalebeam bent up at right angles to the same, as indicated in Fig. 2.

The pivots and lugs of the hinge are formed of combinations of the turned-up edges of the beams, so that a strong and substantial hingeconnection is obtained thereby.

The sliding weight-D moves by means of index-hands d, that are passed through a the slot, keeps the hands always in proper' position across the weighing'beam, and prevents the weight from dropping out. The weight slides along the smooth surface of the weighing-beam, and balances thereby in accurate manner, without being liable to wear as those that work on notches or over an indented surface.

The flat lower part of the weight slides along the under side of the weighting-beam, and admits the'comyenient folding up of the scales, while the steady position of the weight produces, in connection with the short l'ulcrum, the accurate weighing of the scales without the usual weights. l

The outermost end of the weighing-beam B is provided with turned-up prongs g, of which the outer ones are bent toward the hinge part of the beam, and the middle one toward the outside, to support thereon small adjusting-weights, and prevent them from dropping, if more than one is used.

The scales are folded together into portable form to be carried in the pocket, and are instantly opened and ready for use by placing the fulcrum on a suitable glass or other level surface.

The/scales may be manufactured at less cost than any other scale in use, and are more accurate and convenient for the purposes forwhich they are intended than the spring and other scales at present generally employed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent l. The folding and portable scales described, made of a hinged and fulcrumed tray-beam, and a weighing-beam having a flat sliding and guided weight, running in a longitudinal slot of the scalebeam, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The weighing-beam provided at the outer end with turned-up prongs for attaching small adjusting-weights, substantially as described.

ROBERT HENRY CLARKE RHEA.

Witnesses:

THOS. J. ATON, H. F. RHEA.

PATENT QFFIOE. A 

